What is the purpose of this research study?

The purpose of the research study is to examine the efficacy of fish oil and olive oil in changing cardiovascular and pulmonary functions after ozone exposure. Healthy, nonsmoking, moderately physically active, adults ages 18 to 35 will be given dietary supplementation of fish oil or olive oil or no supplements for 4 weeks, then exposed to ozone or clean air in a large living room sized chamber under one 3-day exposure scenario.

Can I take part in the study?

You may be able to take part in the study if you are:

A healthy nonsmoker and,

Between the ages of 18 and 35

Normally moderately active.

What will I be asked to do?

Complete pre-study screening.

Complete a training session to learn about the study and study procedures.

Make dietary supplementation of fish oil or olive oil or no supplements for 4 weeks.

Breathe clean air and air with carefully controlled amounts of pollutants during one 3-day sessions.

What is the purpose of this research study?

The purpose of this research study is to learn how neighborhood characteristics, such as air pollution levels, parks and green spaces, and lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, contacts with living nature and level of stress, affect health. The study involves collecting information on life style, diseases, and neighborhood characteristics, and measuring substances in blood and saliva samples called “biomarkers of health”. These biomarkers are naturally produced by the human body in response to stress and disease. Biological changes in the human body can accumulate in time and make people more likely to develop chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, depression and diabetes. We will also measure antibodies to several common disease-causing microbes in your blood and saliva samples. Antibodies are substances that your body produces to fight off infections. We will also analyze your saliva samples to find out what microbes live in your mouth. Finally, we would like to analyze fecal samples from selected healthy volunteers to find out what bacteria live in their guts.

Can I take part in the study?

You may be able to take part in the study if you are:

An adult of at least 18 years of age

Live in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan area

Have lived at your current address for at least three years

What will I be asked to do?

Call EPA and complete pre-study screening.

Visit EPA Human Studies Facility in Chapel Hill one time for data collection.

Complete a questionnaire asking about your health, lifestyle, physical activity and use of medications

You may also be asked to participate in a fecal microbiome survey. Your participation in that survey is voluntary. If you are enrolled, you will receive a stool sampling kit and shipping container to collect a sample at home and ship it to EPA.

You may also be asked, within a year after completing this initial survey, to participate in a follow-up study. Participation in that study is voluntary. It will involve four more visits to the Human Studies Facility during a year to fill out questionnaire forms, complete similar physical examination, and provide blood and saliva samples. You will also be asked to collect six more saliva samples at home and to fill out monthly questionnaire forms.

How long will it take?

You will spend approximately 2 hours at the Human Studies Facility to complete this initial study. If you become enrolled in a follow-up study, you will spend a total of approximately 6 hours at the Human Studies Facility during one year.

What will I get for volunteering?

You will receive $100 for participating in this study. If you are selected to participate in a fecal microbiome survey, you will receive additional $75 for returning your stool sample. If you also enroll in the follow-up survey, you will receive additional $420 for completing all study procedures.

How can I sign up or get more information?

Call us or send an email. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm EST. After hours, please leave a message on voice mail, and we will return your call promptly.

What is the purpose of this research study?

The purpose of the research study is to examine the effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acids in protecting cardiopulmonary function from ambient air pollution in adults. Healthy, nonsmoking adults ages 25 to 55 will be screened for dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Qualified subjects either have a high intake of EPA/DHA from dietary sources or supplements, OR have a low intake of EPA/ DHA from their diets. Breathing, blood draw, heart rate tests, retinal imaging and brachial artery ultrasound will be performed.